Kiwi hikers looking for a 3 week loop in the Sierra’s?

[RedRaven]

A group of five hikers from New Zealand are returning to the US for the fourth time for another 4 weeks (three weeks hiking, 1 week logistics).

We are trying to create a 20-23 day loop in the Sierra’s. We are interested in the High Sierra Trail, the Sierra High Route, and The Big SEKI also interests us. However, I can’t seem to link it all together into a 3 week loop.

We have completed three hikes on the PCT route including the JMT, Reds Meadow to Echo Lake trailheads, and a portion of the Washington section before fire forced us to abort and we did a couple of weeks in Wallowa-Whitman National Park. These trails were very easy to travel, albeit we only travelled 15-17 miles a day allowing plenty of time for looking at the amazing vista’s and still getting to camp mid afternoon feeling pretty relaxed. We are experienced hikers and navigators, but in our 50’s and aren’t trying to prove anything to ourselves anymore. Having said this, we are still able and prepared to hike Class 2 and Class 3. River crossing to waist high or okay depending on flow. We won’t have crampons or ice equipment so this will be limiting the snow the ice travels.

We love the Sierra’s for the big mountain scenery and excellent weather and planning our trip for Mid August to Mid September 2025.

In the past we have adjusted to the altitude within a day to two. We plan to have an easy first day to allow us to recover from jetlag and adjust to the altitude.

Logistics has been an issue in the past, trying to arrange point to point hikes has been a pain when flying in. This year we are hoping to create a loop in the Sierra’s. Potentially getting a long term car rental to coordinate resupplies before we start hiking and leave at a road end and maybe even use it mid hike for resupplies - for example leave at Onion Valley if we did the Big SEKI Loop and then drive to another loop hike, although we prefer the wilderness experience to be uninterrupted if possible but not a problem if it can't work out that way. We are happy to carry 10 days food between resupplies.

I’ve tried to search for 3 week solutions in the forums but aren’t familiar enough to know the names, after 9 hours of looking things up I’m reaching out to locals for advice.

Can anyone suggest a 3 week loop in the Sierra’s?

Cheers
Red Raven

[stevet]

Perhaps do two loops. From either Onion Valley or Roads End. South from Onion Valley can do a section of the SoSHR (summit Whitney either via the Mountaineers Route or exit Wright Lake Basin to the JMT), grab a section of the High Sierra Trail, then over Elizabeth Pass to Deadman Canyon, Avalanche Pass and then back to Onion Valley (and resupply). Then north can do a big loop combining the JMT and sections of the SHR. Time allowing can capture Ionian Basin and Amphitheater Lake/Cataract Pass into Dumbbell Lakes Basin to access Lakes Basin and the SHR. Doing two loops you'll retrace a section (for what I've outlined Bubbs Creek) but should have no difficulty stringing together 3-4 weeks.

And note, the off trail sections go significantly slower than trail.

[RedRaven]

Thanks stevet, I'll will map that out and have a look tomorrow in more detail. I appreciate your suggestion and will respond with my thoughts once I can find all the locations.

[paul]

It would be useful to know how many days you would go between resupplies, and whether you would go for a horse packer resuply where they bring it to you, or you need locations you can reach where you could leave stuff or to which you could mail stuff. That would help narrow the possibilities.

[bald tires]

Mind you I have never done this but have been thinking about doing it. Here goes. Take the Bubbs Creek Trail from roads end to where it joins the JMT. I have read there are bear boxes there. Leave your resupply stuff in one of the bear boxes. Then hike north on the JMT over Glen Pass, past Rae lakes then continue on over Pinchot Pass. Where the JMT meets the south fork of the Kings River leave the JMT and follow the river down to where it meets up with the Woods Creek trail. I did this years ago. There was a trail for about half the way and the rest was pretty easy going. Take Woods creek trail to Bubbs Creek Trail and Bubbs Creek Trail up to where you left your resupply. Then continue on over Forester Pass. to where the JMT meets up with the HST. Take the HST trail all the way back to the Bearpaw Meadow area where you can pick up the trail over Elizabeth Pass to Deadman Canyon to the Roaring River. Then take the trail over Avalanche Pass back to the Bubbs Creek Trail and then back to Roads End on the Bubbs Creek Trail.

If You want more distance you could take the JMT up to the middle fork of the Kings River and then follow the trails along the river to the trail that takes you over Granite Pass and back to Roads End. This would change your resupply to Roads End.

All of these trails are on Tom Harrison's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks map.

[LMBSGV]

Leave your resupply stuff in one of the bear boxes.

This is illegal. SEKI regulations say "Food-Storage boxes are for immediate on-site use only. Caching food or gear within food-storage boxes is prohibited."

And the backcountry rangers enforce it. I've twice seen bear boxes with a note declaring that the cached food has been removed with the note signed by the ranger.

[bald tires]

Good to know that. I have seen posts by people suggesting to leave resupply packages in bear boxes. I wonder if this applies everywhere or just in SEKI.

[Schleppy]

Good to know that. I have seen posts by people suggesting to leave resupply packages in bear boxes. I wonder if this applies everywhere or just in SEKI.

Even if it's not perfectly enforced, seems like a risky bet. Trail head theft is also not uncommon.

[wsp_scott]

I have not measure distances or thought about how to break this into day or resupply, but here is an idea of destinations to check out. I've hiked some of this and dreamed of doing the rest. This would give a mix of trails and people and a bunch of cross country travel with basically no one around. You could easily set up a base camp in some places for a couple days and do some day hiking without packs.


You could do the HST all the way to Whitney (and then work your way north and see Wallace & Wales & Tulainyo lakes and the Wright Lakes and then the Upper Kern area (possible detour to MIlestone and Kaweah Basins) then either Forester or Junction or Harrison Passes then north on the JMT (resupply at Onion Valley) over Glen Pass to Rae Lakes with a detour to 60 Lakes and possibly Gardiner Basin (or skip Glen Pass and go Charlotte Lake to Gardiner to 60 Lakes to Rae) then north on JMT over Pinchot Pass then aim for the Sierra High Route and Cartridge Basin (head south if you want to at this point over Red, White and Grey Passes towards your starting point).

If you want more distance don't go to Cartridge Pass, but stay on the JMT and over Mather Pass, then pick up the SHR out of Palisade Lakes over Cirque, Potluck and Knapsack Passes to Dusy Basin (might be a good resupply). It might be time to head south at this point so JMT south to Cataract Creek and Amphitheater Lake then Cataract Creek Pass to Dumbell Lakes to Lakes Basin and the SHR over Red, White and Grey Passes and head towards Roads End up Deadmans Canyon, Lonely Lake, Tablelands and back to the car.

Just the JMT part of this to Palisade Lakes would be about 60 miles and 13000' of elevation gains/losses.

There are a ton of other trip reports if you search for some of these areas

The HST map is really useful for the cross country passes https://www.highsierratopix.com/high-si ... &cat=&mt=3

Here are a couple of trip reports that I have done in some of these areas just to give you an idea of distances and sights

Starting at Taboose Pass and going over Mather, Cirque, Potluck, and Knapsack Passes through Dusy then back https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2022.html

Starting at Shepherd Pass and going though the Upper Kern and Kaweah Basin https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2021.html

Starting at Cottonwood Pass with the JMT to Wallace and Wales Lakes and then south through Crabtree and MIter Basins https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2020.html

[RedRaven]

It would be useful to know how many days you would go between resupplies, and whether you would go for a horse packer resuply where they bring it to you, or you need locations you can reach where you could leave stuff or to which you could mail stuff. That would help narrow the possibilities.

Hi paul. We are happy with up to a ten day food carry. We aren't considering horse packer resupplies or complicated resupply options. We have done a few of those in prior years posting food buckets to resupply points, hitching into towns, etc etc, but flying in from overseas we are hoping to keep the logistics as simple as possible. Hence looking for two x 10 loops ideally.